Venice critic turns city council candidate

Published: Monday, October 17, 2011 at 2:48 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, October 17, 2011 at 2:48 p.m.

VENICE - On the campaign trail, Venice City Council candidate John Patten likes to wear loafers, blue jeans and a bright orange T-shirt under his sport coat.

"I won't wear dress pants," he said. "If I have to wear a tie, it's a bolo tie, because I hate normal ties."

Patten, 53, tops off his ensemble with a gray fedora worn at a jaunty angle.

If he looks like the unlikeliest of candidates, it's because he is. As an outspoken activist and barbed blogger, Patten has spent the last decade poking, prodding and antagonizing the powers-that-be in Venice. He has feuded with everyone from local reporters to powerful developers — just the kind of people most politicians try to charm, or at least neutralize.

Not Patten. His hero is Hunter S. Thompson, the late gonzo journalist. His style is confrontational.

"I'm not one of the most beloved people in Venice, by some standards," he said, "but other people come up and say they love my website, and go get the bastards."

But now, Patten is running for elected office, so instead of venting at his site, veniceflorida.com, he's out shaking hands. Instead of second-guessing local officials, he's trying to make a good first impression. Instead of railing against city hall, he's pleading for votes.

And how does that feel?

"Odd," he said, laughing. "Actually, asking for votes is not that odd, because I've done that before for other people. What's really odd is asking for money."

Speaking his mind

In his city council race, Patten has three opponents: retired insurance executive Don Anderson, real estate agent David Sherman and business consultant Bud Lefebvre.

His hope is that on Nov. 8 voters will split on the three business candidates and choose him as a good-government alternative.

Last week, in a Rotary Club forum, the candidates introduced themselves and answered questions about local issues. Patten demonstrated his knowledge of local affairs — even critics concede that he's well-informed — but got bogged down in many of his answers.

He repeated himself. He smiled too little and explained too much. He looked and sounded like a first-time candidate.

In between answers, audience members talked among themselves, rating the candidates and handicapping their chances.

"What's his name?" one asked about Patten.

"You don't think he really has a chance, do you?" asked another.

"I think he's just an instigator," said Richard Appel, one of the many Venice residents who has had run-ins with Patten. "He just wants to cause trouble."

Other forum observers were more positive.

"He definitely speaks his mind," said Andrea Arnold. "He puts it out there, just like on his website."

But would she support him?

"Probably not," Arnold said, laughing, "though he would be entertaining on the city council."

'A little different'

Mike Gelormino, an ally with the Venice Taxpayers organization, thinks Patten has more support than many people realize. Voters respect a man who speaks his mind, come what may.

"John's John, and that's what you're going to get," Gelormino said. "It'd be good for the city council to have someone a little different."

Patten happens to be gay — he lives with his partner in a condo off Venice Avenue — but that has not been much of an issue in local politics. A critic once called him a gay activist, which he found amusing.

"I've never been a gay activist," he said, laughing. "I'm an activist and I'm gay, but I'm not a gay activist."

In his campaign, Patten is trying to listen to voters. Everyone has an idea about what he should be saying and doing. He strives to be less gonzo and more gracious.

"You've got to be a little more conservative face-to-face," he said. "I can't be the same person I am online."

Like a Cubs fan

Sometimes, though, Patten can't help himself. The provocateur behind the candidate occasionally leaps to the fore.

Last week, Patten appeared before the Venice City Council to offer his opinion on a police issue. But before making a brief statement, he could not resist suggesting that the council had violated the Sunshine Law in a previous discussion.

Even Patten could feel the councilmen bristle. "Sorry for the hostility," he said, "but it's important."

Mayor John Holic cut him off: "I'm not going to argue with you, Mr. Patten."

The rigors of running for office haven't cost Patten his sense of humor. He laughs about the risk of actually winning the election and having to serve on the city council. And he has considered the alternative.

"You have to come in emotionally prepared to lose," he said. "It's like being a Cubs fan."

Patten would like to serve Venice on its city council, but campaigning isn't much fun. "Actually, I don't like running," he said. "This is the goofiest way to get a job."

<p><em>VENICE</em> - On the campaign trail, Venice City Council candidate John Patten likes to wear loafers, blue jeans and a bright orange T-shirt under his sport coat.</p><p>"I won't wear dress pants," he said. "If I have to wear a tie, it's a bolo tie, because I hate normal ties."</p><p>Patten, 53, tops off his ensemble with a gray fedora worn at a jaunty angle.</p><p>If he looks like the unlikeliest of candidates, it's because he is. As an outspoken activist and barbed blogger, Patten has spent the last decade poking, prodding and antagonizing the powers-that-be in Venice. He has feuded with everyone from local reporters to powerful developers — just the kind of people most politicians try to charm, or at least neutralize.</p><p>Not Patten. His hero is Hunter S. Thompson, the late gonzo journalist. His style is confrontational.</p><p>"I'm not one of the most beloved people in Venice, by some standards," he said, "but other people come up and say they love my website, and go get the bastards."</p><p>But now, Patten is running for elected office, so instead of venting at his site, veniceflorida.com, he's out shaking hands. Instead of second-guessing local officials, he's trying to make a good first impression. Instead of railing against city hall, he's pleading for votes.</p><p>And how does that feel?</p><p>"Odd," he said, laughing. "Actually, asking for votes is not that odd, because I've done that before for other people. What's really odd is asking for money."</p><p>Speaking his mind</p><p>In his city council race, Patten has three opponents: retired insurance executive Don Anderson, real estate agent David Sherman and business consultant Bud Lefebvre.</p><p>His hope is that on Nov. 8 voters will split on the three business candidates and choose him as a good-government alternative.</p><p>Last week, in a Rotary Club forum, the candidates introduced themselves and answered questions about local issues. Patten demonstrated his knowledge of local affairs — even critics concede that he's well-informed — but got bogged down in many of his answers.</p><p>He repeated himself. He smiled too little and explained too much. He looked and sounded like a first-time candidate.</p><p>In between answers, audience members talked among themselves, rating the candidates and handicapping their chances.</p><p>"What's his name?" one asked about Patten.</p><p>"You don't think he really has a chance, do you?" asked another.</p><p>"I think he's just an instigator," said Richard Appel, one of the many Venice residents who has had run-ins with Patten. "He just wants to cause trouble."</p><p>Other forum observers were more positive.</p><p>"He definitely speaks his mind," said Andrea Arnold. "He puts it out there, just like on his website."</p><p>But would she support him?</p><p>"Probably not," Arnold said, laughing, "though he would be entertaining on the city council."</p><p>'A little different'</p><p>Mike Gelormino, an ally with the Venice Taxpayers organization, thinks Patten has more support than many people realize. Voters respect a man who speaks his mind, come what may.</p><p>"John's John, and that's what you're going to get," Gelormino said. "It'd be good for the city council to have someone a little different."</p><p>Patten happens to be gay — he lives with his partner in a condo off Venice Avenue — but that has not been much of an issue in local politics. A critic once called him a gay activist, which he found amusing.</p><p>"I've never been a gay activist," he said, laughing. "I'm an activist and I'm gay, but I'm not a gay activist."</p><p>In his campaign, Patten is trying to listen to voters. Everyone has an idea about what he should be saying and doing. He strives to be less gonzo and more gracious.</p><p>"You've got to be a little more conservative face-to-face," he said. "I can't be the same person I am online."</p><p>Like a Cubs fan</p><p>Sometimes, though, Patten can't help himself. The provocateur behind the candidate occasionally leaps to the fore.</p><p>Last week, Patten appeared before the Venice City Council to offer his opinion on a police issue. But before making a brief statement, he could not resist suggesting that the council had violated the Sunshine Law in a previous discussion.</p><p>Even Patten could feel the councilmen bristle. "Sorry for the hostility," he said, "but it's important."</p><p>Mayor John Holic cut him off: "I'm not going to argue with you, Mr. Patten."</p><p>The rigors of running for office haven't cost Patten his sense of humor. He laughs about the risk of actually winning the election and having to serve on the city council. And he has considered the alternative.</p><p>"You have to come in emotionally prepared to lose," he said. "It's like being a Cubs fan."</p><p>Patten would like to serve Venice on its city council, but campaigning isn't much fun. "Actually, I don't like running," he said. "This is the goofiest way to get a job."</p>